Home Match Day Thread 25/9/2021 L1: OUFC v Gillingham

[Mighty Tage]

Went today, I like what Oxford are doing in some respects. The way they get the ball down and knock it around is exactly how football should be played, and I thought number 5 had an excellent game. Beyond that, there is absolutely no shape out of possession from the midfield. Numbers 8 and 6 are too similar and not brave enough with the pass. Also, KR seems one dimensional at the moment. It was very easy for Gillingham to work out all they had to do was let Oxford knock it about amongst themselves in the middle as the cutting crosses and dangerous shots/ through balls weren’t coming and when they were attempted they weren’t anything to worry about.

Matty Taylor is class by the way, needs the ball played through to his feet to run onto, like for his goal.

I was sat with my brother and we both thought Kane was an absolute certainty to be subbed off at HT, his second touch was a tackle for most of the first 45, but he improved well in the second to his credit.

2 points dropped I think, which is a pity.

 

[Mighty Tage]

Looking at the stats we dominated that game, except for fouls commited. But I would love to see stats for time wasted compared to time added on by the ref. That would be very intersting.

The ref wasn’t brilliant I have to say. He showed real naivety in respects to the quick free kicks.

 

[Swaby39]

It was, but no point trying to decipher why we can’t win games we should win ( but no game is a guaranteed win no matter how well you play.) Nothing seems to have fallen for us in the last 4 games well they better fall for us right in the next game as the two after will be a lot tougher than the last 4 games.

I agree with this to an extent… but it is only 4 games. That’s my point. This isn’t 10 games without a win, playing badly etc. Previously to this run we got what looks like a good point at Cambridge, 3 home wins and an admirable performance at Bolton who have started well and we really should have got something there too. In all of those games (I only missed one which was Cambridge), we were very good considering how early it was.

Today was not brilliant but it was much better than the last few. We’ll play worse than that and win this season and we’ve already played better and lost. It’s football.

 

[ECYellow]

Looking at the stats we dominated that game, except for fouls commited. But I would love to see stats for time wasted compared to time added on by the ref. That would be very interesting.

With respect, we don't get 3 points for dominating possession.

I thought the ref had a reasonable game and thought the penalty shout at the end was actually good defending and positioning.

 

[Nadi-]

Another one for Lavery today.
Goal something like every 70 minutes in the championship, international and cup games.
Robinson must be kicking himself for coming back with someone he does’nt even consider.
And still only 22

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[bazzer9461]

I agree with this to an extent… but it is only 4 games. That’s my point. This isn’t 10 games without a win, playing badly etc. Previously to this run we got what looks like a good at Cambridge, 3 home wins and an admirable performance at Bolton who have started well and we really should have got something there too. In all of those games (I only missed one which was Cambridge), we were very good considering how early it was.

Today was not brilliant but it was much better than the last few. We’ll play worse than that and win those season and we’ve already played better and lost. It’s football.

I agree with what your saying nd o remember people saying it makes a change to start well but now we are having our hopefully one and only bad patch.
Why KR stuck with Winnall beggars beyond belief that is a waste of a wage which could have gone towards another decent striker either to partner Taylor or replace him when he is having a dip in form.
Today Williams was already to come on for almost 8 minutes then KR changes his mind and brings on Agyei with 4 mins of of added time. Indecisive?

 

[West Oxon U’s]

DIFFERENT CLASS:

 

[Mighty Tage]

DIFFERENT CLASS:

Wow, can’t believe that. Thought it would be Moore.

 

[Carpy]

10 successful crosses out of 42 says all you want to know about our lack of cutting edge.

 

[PottersRightBoot]

Their goalkeeper should have received a five match ban for time wasting.

Staff Sergeant ‘look at me’ Drysdale failed to do his stuff.

Pluses: Fluent, busy, technically adept, quick passing. Kane really adds to that party. Clever footballer. That’s great, well done boys.

Last pass, last touch though, panic stricken and gauche, save Matty’s goal.

Pretty football but ultimately ineffective. Four of our top players are right wingers yet left wing quality cupboard is threadbare. All screams out unbalanced squad to me.

Id also give Bodin a start, he’s an interesting player.

Word for Macca, always liked him when he wore the yellow,Their best player today.

Not a bad game quality wise but atmosphere slightly moribund. .

 

[WuTang]

Kane was superb. It was nice to have Moore back.

Robbo, Short and Mous need to get them on the training field working hard in the final third.

I fear they come away from these games, look at the shots crosses and possession and think "wow we were great, just unlucky, keep up the same and the results will come".

I honestly believe these stats are deceiving them and fans into thinking we are dominating games with tons of chances. I don't think we are, teams are happy to let us have possession because our build ups are so slow and easy to defend.

Defenders hate running back towards their own goal, Gillingham only did that once and we scored. Did we learn from that? Seemingly not because we chose to go for a slow build up when there were chances to get in behind. Whyte is rapid but is constantly coming short to receive the ball.

We should have had a penalty and only Bodin knows how he didn't score, so could be a little harsh. But I found myself pulling my hair out with ourselves getting into decent positions and not working the ball into the box, instead lobbing a cross into keeper. Or shooting from 25 yards when there's a pass on, or playing it backwards and sideway when we had 3 players asking for the ball infront of their defence...

 

[Uncle Belly]

Excuse me for not taking you seriously but you'd get rid of Tyler Goodrham at the end of the season and don't rate Jack Stevens. You were also amongst those screaming for MApp to be sacked in his first season. Your footballing knowledge would embarrass my 5 year old!!

Young Tyler doing very well at the moment down in Hayes. Clearly a class act albeit against limited opposition

 

[dickwalton1964]

Kane was excellent and his work rate second to none. I agree with the post above about Bodin, not sure what exactly but there is something there that I, too, think is worth pursuing with him.

 

[Joey]

Their goalie played a blinder and a bit of banter with fans at the end. Thoroughly enjoyed the second half and plenty of reasons to be positive.

I thought he was absolutely awful. Good save from Taylor and a great reaction to get up and push it over but otherwise had the weakest wrists I can remember seeing and dropped a few easy catches, one of them in the six yard box for Bodin to smash a few yards over.

 

[WhyteMustard]

It’s all so indifferent, isn’t it?

The atmosphere at the Kassam is nothing short of dire these days. Anybody that suggests otherwise is deluded.

Meanwhile on the pitch, well i’m not sure what to say. We were better today compared to last week but Gorrin just isnt robust or a good enough technician with the ball, to play as the deep lying midfielder in a team that has aspirations for a promotion challenge. 4 times today he gave the ball away while under no pressure at all.

Taylor took his goal well but remains isolated.

Robinson: what can you say?

I’ve walked away again today feeling totally flat and so indifferent about the whole matchday experience. Something, maybe many things aren’t quite right but for the love of god, i just cant put my finger on it.

Before I start I must say the majority of the time my glass is definitely half full and I try to be as positive as much as possible.

I am also a very big KR fan and I'm willing him to do well.

I was slightly shocked and dumbfounded when putting Radio Oxford on in my car on my way home.

I totally disagree that we played well today and some of our play being scintillating, we were absolutely woeful in the attacking 3rd (sorry but we have been for weeks).

Gillingham to me looked a very, very poor side and again it was a side where we should of smelled blood.

Kane (cut above this level) and Henry at times are very, very pleasing on the eye but the balance in the midfield for me today was wrong. I also thought Whyte picked up when playing on the right side and middle.

Our movement off the ball today was woeful and we have looked powder puff in the final third for weeks now. Numerous times we played the ball around at the back waiting for an opening but hardly any movement from our attackers.

Sorry but every time we get a corner or a free kick our anticipation off the ball is very slow.

We did get Taylor into the game more with much better balls played into him which was encouraging and clearly its been worked on in the week.

Thought Moore was absolutely superb today at the back and won practically all his aerial battles.

Bodin brought some more better decision making in the attacking third when he came on albeit he should of scored.

Unfortunately at this stage it doesn't look like we have really addressed the areas KR highlighted after the Blackpool play off matches and we look too nice to me.

I still think we have enough to have a similar season to the past 2 and hopefully capable of going on some good runs.

Decision making, movement off the ball. better anticipation in front of goal are much, much needed.

Some good signs today but also so much to work on

 

[Nadi-]

10 successful crosses out of 42 says all you want to know about our lack of cutting edge.

So it’s not just Sykes then.

 

[Scotchegg]

Young Tyler doing very well at the moment down in Hayes. Clearly a class act albeit against limited opposition

It builds confidence and I'm sure it won't be long before he steps further up the pyramid to continue his development. I'm sure he's got a fantastic future ahead of him.

 

[Nadi-]

Don’t really get this. Some players are really fluid and can play all over the pitch with consistency and some are particularly good in one role. Lots of elite level players see massive drop offs in form and output on one flank versus the other, let alone a couple of divisions lower. Grealish almost certainly wouldn’t be as good on the right as he is the left, Sterling’s stats when playing on the right at City versus the left are way down, same for Rashford at United… most wide players do have best positions and stronger sides.

Would be good to see how good tiger woods would be putting left handed

 

[Nadi-]

Just as I expected. Doesn't matter what lineup you put out, it's the way they're being told to attack which is the problem.

They're not being told to work it into the box enough, they're not being told to get to the byline. They're not being told to make triangles and feed service to feet inside the box.

We have one gameplan, keep the ball, work it to the wings and loop poor crosses in. The crosses are aimless, no direction, no pace, they're so easy to defend. We have no physicality up front yet our gameplan is to beat these defenders in the air.

All of our best chances come from one-twos, triangles and link up play. When we feed our attackers with service to feet inside the box we make great chances. We have so many great technical players to do this but they're clearly being told to play in the midfield and just lump in crosses once we get into the final third.

So frustrating, we should be picking up wins.

If our crossing is pretty aimless, why not work to our strengths.
I know I’ve mentioned before, but the Winnall miss against Charlton is our solution
Neat sharp passing, and movement off the ball, led to a real chance. Most teams at div 1 level will not cope with that,
keep floating the crosses in, the stats says it all